'96 Explorer Issues / Recall?

EastCreek · 12-27-2006, 11:06 AM

OK, I have laughed at this situation, but it has also had me terrified and justifiably concerned. This has happend with my Explorer about 6 times in the last 3 years. Twice it has happened in the last 2 months.

Very simply put: I am driving down the road at atleast 45 miles an hour and my gas pedal goes straight to the floor (without my pushing it!) and the car takes off. My brakes are unable to stop the vehicle. The only thing I do is throw the car into neutral, as the engine is ripping loud, pull to the side of the road and put it in park, then cut engine.

On a restart, the engine may be "ripping" again. On a third, or forth attempt to restart, I am usually able to have things back to normal.

The 1st time this happened, I was told that it's common for a small fleck of gravel to get kicked up and hold the gas vale open. A guy who came to tow, showed me this, and said he has seen it a number of times with Explorers.

I won't let my wife drive the car, and now don't want my kids in it. Very dangerous. Someone could die. I am calling a dealership to research and have foud recall info that is similar, but not exact. What the heck is going on?! EC

Cool Texan · 12-27-2006, 11:11 AM

icbig1s · 12-27-2006, 11:47 AM

An Exploder on a suicide mission? Hope you find the problem. Maybe try taking a fuse out of the cruise control system?

Blue Seaduction · 12-27-2006, 11:51 AM

I have 96 exploder that has 198k on it. I have never had this happen, but it would most likely scare the you know what out of you !

weekender · 12-27-2006, 12:15 PM

My dear old mum drives a 96 explorer with the 302 in it. I know this has never happened to her because I would have heard all about it.

MattPark · 12-27-2006, 12:20 PM

So did yours have a piece of gravel in your throttle body?

Sounds like a whacko cruise control system. Pull that fuse if nothing else.

Radke · 12-27-2006, 12:50 PM

WOW! I have a '97 explorer that my wife drives. If this happened with her behind the wheel, I can only imagine the carnage, because she would probably panic, close her eyes, and hope for the best, and you could imagine the best wouldn't be all that good.

I'd be for finding out a better answer than a spec of gravel.

choppers · 12-27-2006, 01:07 PM

Do a search in Google, been going on a very long time. My mom was injured in our old ford. First year they had the same cruise control unit. Sold that piece of junk after insurance fixed it and never went back. If I had a car that needed to be fix or repaired daily, I would loose my mind.

EastCreek · 12-27-2006, 01:38 PM

The car has 168k miles on it. I put new brakes into it, and a new (rebuilt)transmission this summer, as it seems to be worth it in all other aspects.

I will take the advice on disconnecting the fuse for cruise control, as I never use it.

The tow guy opened the little valve with a screw driver and said he saw the little gravel piece fall out. The car the started and ran fine, and I didn't even get it towed or pay a fee. The first time this occured I had my wive, two toddlers, cat, and two dogs in the truck. Scared me something else. It has been on roads where the are sanding in the winter for snow and traction.

A mechanic said to bring it in for a diagnostic...possible sticky something or other. I will most likely be doing this for reassurance purposes, but the whole deal is too weird. There is nothing stranger than your car going "off to the races" without you planning on it. Luckily, I do not ride close to the cars in front of me..AND I have figured out how to react quickly to the situation.

johndeeregreen · 12-27-2006, 01:53 PM

One word---- "Christine"
Good luck with that.

EastCreek · 12-27-2006, 02:10 PM

"Christine"...as in S. King....bloody mess?

1pump · 12-27-2006, 04:10 PM

What's weird is that the pedal goes to the floor on it's own. I could see a chunk of whatever making the linkage or throttle body stick, but not actually pull the cable.
Sometimes broken motor mounts can cause that. A mount breaks, allows the engine to twist up off the mount due to torque, and it starts to pull on the throttle cable. The RPMs go up, and it twists even harder, and the next thing you know you're driving a guided missile.

choppers · 12-27-2006, 04:37 PM

Autosafety.org I was wrong about the ford, I just don't like them since my mom was shaken up. it's also european and japanese cars. Been going around for a very long time. Ever notice when you push the accelerator button on your steering wheel the pedal goes down on its own. Unplug the fuse.